What Is Glutathione

Glutathione’s three major roles in the body are summarized by the letters A-B-C.

Antioxidant

Blood Booster

Cell Detoxifier

These are the three critical processes driven by glutathione.

The Master Antioxidant

Over the past thirty years, researchers have explored the role of antioxidants in good health as well as the treatment and prevention of diseases involving oxidation or fermentation by metabolic acids. Well-known and widely used antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium neutralize acid. They occur naturally in nature, but not in the body. They must be introduced as part of a balanced diet. Given the critical role of antioxidants in good health, it is not surprising that the body itself manufactures its own natural antioxidants. The most important of these is glutathione. Because all other antioxidants depend upon the presence of glutathione to function properly, scientists call it ‘the master antioxidant.’

Glutathione binds to toxins, forming a water-soluble complex – which is ultimately excreted in the urine or bile as waste.

Food for the Blood

Elevated glutathione levels enable the body to produce more white blood cells. White blood cells are the body’s garbage collectors and are the most important cells for maintaining sterility of the body fluids. Glutathione plays a central role in the proper function of the white blood cells. Dr. Bustavo Bounous, a leading glutathione expert, says, ‘The limiting factor in the proper activity of our lymphocytes (the white blood cells) is the availability of glutathione.’ In other words, healthy growth and activity of the white blood cells depends upon glutathione’s availability. Put simply, glutathione is ‘food’ for the white blood cells.

Cellular Detoxifier

Whether we know it or not, we are continually inhaling and ingesting natural and synthetic acidic toxins. They are unavoidable in these modern times both in our polluted cities and our poorly engineered food supplies. When the body has the health and the nourishment it needs, it works tirelessly to eliminate acidic toxins and to protect itself. But, increasing levels of environmental pollution are depleting the body’s store of glutathione more and more rapidly. Our main organ of detoxification of acidic waste products is the lymphatic system and the liver.

This is the body’s most concentrated source of glutathione. Studies show that low glutathione levels lead to poor lymphatic and liver function, causing more and more acidic toxins to circulate through the body and resulting in damage to individual cells and organs. Medical doctors today routinely use glutathione-promoting drugs to detoxify victims of certain types of drug overdose.

Glutathione in Natural Medicine

Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have long advocated the use of milk thistle for liver problems. It turns out that this herb works by modestly elevating glutathione levels. The mineral selenium also produces subtle elevations in glutathione by becoming integrated into the glutathione peroxidase.

Glutathione in Traditional Medicine

Emergency medical doctors, toxicologists and lung and liver specialists are well acquainted with glutathione’s therapeutic uses. American physicians seeking ways to raise a patient’s glutathione levels can open the standard Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) and find two options – the pharmaceutical drugs sold under the names Parlodex and Mucomyst, and the natural dietary supplement found in natural foods stores derived from whey protein isolate.

Drugs That Raise Glutathione Levels

Pharmaceutical drugs like Procysteine, OTC, OTX, Glutathione monoesters and Glutathione diesters have been used to raise glutathione levels. However, they all produce side effects and are unsuitable for long term use. This pharmaceutical nonnutritive chemical is used to break up mucus in lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and asthma. It remains the standard treatment for acetaminophen overdose.

Glutathione in Health and Disease

It is believed that glutathione has an important role to play in the prevention and treatment of disease. It may in the future be considered as important to health as an alkaline diet, exercise and alkalin lifestyle. Clinical tests show that raised glutathione levels may address some of the eight major health issues of our time:

- Cancer causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been found to alter levels of glutathione compounds in experiments, which may alter the body’s resistance to certain types of cancer. Glutathione deficiencies have been linked to many forms of cancer.

Prevents cancerous tissue

Suppresses tumor growth

Eliminates carcinogen – acids

Retards oxidative stress

Prevents wasting disease

Eases side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy

3) Pulmonary

- Glutathione is the most efficient free radical (acid) scavenger in the airways, and dozens of studies have confirmed that free radical (acid) damage is a primary player in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Rahman I, MacNee W. Oxidative Stress and Regulation of Glutathione in Lung Inflammation. Eur Respir J. 2000 Sep; 16(3):534-54.

- Glutathione is critically important to our brain as it is one of the most important brain antioxidants. Glutathione helps preserve brain tissue by preventing damage from free radicals (acids). In addition to quenching dangerous acids, glutathione also acts to recycle vitamin E, which also has the ability to reduce acidity in the brain. (Perlmutte D.BrainRecovery.com July 2004, 5th ed:13)

- Autism – Medical literature documents that an out-fection can lead to a lowering of glutathione which participates in detoxification, interacts with metallothioneins, and supports many crucial aspects of immunity. A link between glutathione and autism regression may derive from the fact that transient or chronic intestinal problems can impair an infant’s or toddler’s nutritional status, thereby minimizing the levels of aminoacids required for the production of glutathione (McCandless, J. Children With Starving Brains. 2003, 2nd ed; 252)

- Parkinson’s Disease – Glutathione helps to preserve brain tissue by preventing damage from free radicals (acids) and destructive chemicals formed by the normal processes of metabolism, toxic elements in the environment, and as a normal response of the body to challenges by acidic agents or other stresses. With the understanding that glutathione is important for brain protection and that this protection many be lacking in the brains of Parkinson’s clients due to glutathione deficiency, it can be seen as very beneficial. (Di Monte DA, Cahn P, Sandy MS. Glutathione in Parkinson’s Disease: A Link Between Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage? An Neurol. 32 Suppl; S111-115, 1992.)

- Detoxifies pollutants including heavy metals and pesticides – Elevated glutathione levels have been shown to protect tissue form lipid peroxidation created by exposure to certain metals. Consider infusions of glutathione to relieve the body burden of both neurotoxins and metal toxicity, including mercury. (Foster, JS. Kane PC, Speight N. The Detoxx Book. 2002;90)

- Prevents hearing loss from noise pollution

- Detoxifies many well-known carcinogens

7) Immunology

- Natural antibiotic

- Anti-viral for AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, etc. – Low glutathione levels in HIV clients may contribute to their immune deficiency since glutathione plays an important role in the function of lymphocytes. Some lymphocytes require adequate levels of glutathione in order to function normally, and HIV induces oxidative stress that depletes the cells of glutathione. Townsend DM, Tew KD, Tapero H.The Importance of Glutathione in Human Disease. Biomed Pharmacother. 2003 May-June;57(3-4):145-55. Droge W, Holm E. Role of Cysteine and Glutathione in HIV Infection and other Diseases Associated with Muscle Wasting and Immunological Dysfunction. FASEB J, 11(13):1077-89 1997 Nov.

- Lyme Disease – Lyme disease is a seriously complex multi-system acidic inflammatory condition that is triggered by bacterial exotoxins. Glutathione helps to remove exotoxic and/or mycotoxic acids by forming a soluble compound with them, which can then be excreted through the urine or gut. (Can Glutathione Help Lyme Disease Suffers? Excerpt from: The Glutathione Report: Opitmal Health with the Master Antioxidant, Issue 4, Volume 1, May 2004).

- Chronic fatigue syndrome – An article in the journal of Medical Hypothesis proposed that glutathione, an anitoxidant essential for lymphocyte function, may be depleted in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. Glutathione is needed for both the immune system and for aerobic muscular contraction. The authors proposed that glutathione depletion by an activated immune system also causes the muscular fatigue and myalgia associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Bounous et al. 1999).

8) Metabolic

Athletic enhancement

Decreases recovery time from physical stress

Supports hemoglobin in kidney failure

Diabetes – The blood and tissues of diabetics are marked by critically low glutathione levels. Glutathione depletion may have adverse consequences in diabetic clients independent of glycemic control, and it may weaken the defense against oxidative stress. De Mattia G, Bravi MC, Laurenti O, Cassone-Faldetta M, Armiento A, Ferri C, Falsano F. Influence of Reduced Glutathione Infusion on Glucose Metabolism in Patients with Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Metabolism. 1998 Aug;47(8):433-8. Glutathione provides the body with tools to fight off these threats naturally. Healthy people also benefit from elevated glutathione levels through an enhanced ability to fight off acidic toxins, disease, precancerous cells and the aging process itself. Diminished glutathione levels are a symptom of aging and are particularly evident in such aliments as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. > Glutathione is also important to physically active people. Many world-class athletes are discovering that well-maintained glutathione levels gives them the edge over their competitors, bringing greater strength and endurance, decreased recovery time from injury, less muscle pain and fatigue, and muscle-promoting activity.

Putting It All Together

1) Medical science is still ascertaining all the critical roles played by glutathione in disease resistance and general good health. Clinical evidence links low glutathione levels to the most common illnesses of our time as well as newly emerging diseases.

2) As an essential aid to health, glutathione works as the master antioxidant in our body, optimizes the white blood cells and detoxifies a long list of pollutants and carcinogens or acids.

3) Pharmaceutical medicine has created drugs that do this very effectively. They have their uses in critical situations. But they also have side effects and repeated use is clearly inadvisable.

References:

Aging – It is well known that aging is accompanied by a preciptous fall in gluathione levels. Lower glutathione levels are implicated in many diseases associated with aging including cataracts, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, atherosclerosis and others. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 47:1021-26, 1994.

Athletic Performance – Raised glutathione levels help increase strength and endurance. Those interested in physical fitness can benefit from a definite athletic edge. Journal of Applied Physiology 87: 1381-1385, 1999. Toxins, Pollution and Radiation – Glutathione detoxifies a variety of pollutants, carcinogens and poisons including many found in fuel exhaust and cigarette smoke. It also retards damage from radiation exposure due to the eroding ozone layer. Annual Reviews of Biochemistry 52: 711-760, 1983.

AIDS – Glutathione levels correspond to poor survival of AIDS patients. Much documentation demonstrates the role of enhanced glutathione levels in AIDS. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 94: 1967-72, 1997.

Heart Disease, Stroke and Cholesterol – Raised glutathione levels fight the oxdiation of fats circulating in the bloodstream including cholesterol, retarding the process of plaque formation in the arteries leading to most heart attacks and strokes. Nutrition Reviews 54: 1-30, 1996.

Diabetes – Diabetics are more prone to ‘out-fections’ and circulatory problems leading to heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. Glutathione protects against the complications of diabetes. Clinical Science 91:575-582, 1996.

Lung Disease – Doctors have used glutathione-promoting drugs to treat many lung diseases including asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphasema. New and potentially therapeutic roles can be found for cigarette smoke damage, pulmonary fibrosis and other illnesses. American Journal of Medical Science 307:119-127, 1994.

Hepatitis – The liver is a major storehouse for glutathione. Glutathione is impaired in alcohol hepatitis as well as in viral (acidic) hepatitis including hepatitis A, B, and C. Raised glutathione levels help restore liver function. American Journal of gastroenterology 91: 2569-2573, 1996.

Pregnancy, Lactation and Childbirth – Glutathione’s role in fetal and placental develoment is critical. It also acts in the placenta to detoxify pollutants before they can reach the developing child. Many complications of pregnancy have been linked with poor glutathione levels. Early Human Development 37: 167-174, 1994.

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About Us

Gosia Kuszewski is a highly qualified Naturopath and a Medical Herbalist. She has a degree in Health Science and for over 15 years has been researching the scientific information looking for the ways of resolving the health issues which she commonly sees in her private practice.

Her experience working with thousands of clients and her knowledge of the subject lead her to believe that the root of the problem in most of the health problems lies in toxicity.